This is what happens when you misbehave and mis-use your paintball gear.

The police department of Cedar Rapids Iowa is going to be asking the City Council to ban the carrying of paintball, bb and other similar projectile shooting devices in public due to a rash of vandalism.

Because these devices are legal to own and because the projectiles are essentially untraceable, even when police catch someone with a shooter in the vicinity of vandalism, they generally canít prove anything.

The local police chief notes that several surrounding towns already have similar ordinances and that requiring owners to carry their guns unloaded in a sealed contain will both aid them in catching vandals AND will help police avoid SHOOTING citizens who are armed with look-a-likes.

Similar local laws have either already been on the books or have been enacted over the past 25 years as a direct response to the advent of and misuse of paintball guns. (Same with BB guns, but BB guns are someone elseís look-out.)

This time, the request for the law follows a weekend in which over 150 reports of vandalism with BB guns were reported.

The Cedar Rapids police department receives an average of 1170 reports of vandalism using BB, paintball and air guns EACH YEAR.

The city has a population of roughly 125,000. Thatís one case of vandalism per 100 inhabitants and that is just WAY too visible.

Just one city in one relatively under-populated state. If we stretch the numbers to cover the entire country, we could be looking at 2.7 million vandalism incidents per year. That number bears absolutely no scientific scrutiny whatsoever, but it certainly gives an idea of the potential scope of the problem.

More importantly, the Cedar Rapids Police Departmentís action demonstrates exactly what happens when you donít address your own problems - others step in to take care of them for you - usually in ways that are unacceptable to you but seem perfectly reasonable to them.

You can read the entire article HERE - including the estimated quarter of a million dollars of property damage caused each year.

For every case of paintball vandalism that is reported to the police, there are THOUSANDS of instances that aren't. Most people don't take the time to call the police, wait 2 hours of an officer to show up, spend another hour filling out paperwork to report something like this.

And one person can commit hundreds of acts of vandalism per year if they wanted to. They can constantly be out, shooting cars, shooting homes, night after night and rarely would it be reported to the police.

People don't fight back by filing police reports, they fight back by voting "NO!" when a field tries to get permits to open up.

As a matter of fact, on the way to PSP Phoenix, my team counted over 20+ city signs that were shot by paintball guns as we approached the event. Basically paintball players were pointing their guns out of the cars, and shooting stop signs, bus stops and anything they could as they drove up the event. You could tell you were getting close because more and more things were vandalized as we got closer to the event.

"It's not good for the sport" make me laugh everytime I hear it.

Most paintball players have absolutely no clue how much the general public & law makers absolutely HATE paintball for this exact type of bullshit. It was the same story 20 years ago, it's the same story today. This is why no one takes paintball seriously, and everyone avoids it. To everyone outside of the industry, we're just a bunch of vandals who shoot up cars and houses for fun.

Most of these cases are people with walmart guns that they bought for twenty bucks going on a night shooting spree because they think it is funny. It sucks that the people who play paintball all the time get punished for the mistakes of stupid people looking to do damage

In my really small town (population of about 3,000 residents) there were many many cases of vandalism involving paintball but no one ever took the time to file a police report. I can remember on Halloween being shot multiple times by people who thought it would be "cool" to do a drive by on little kids wanting to get candy. They do not realize the amount of harm they can cause, what if that stray paintball that was shot ending up hitting someone in the eye?

Eventually, paintball got voted to be banned in my town and I did not know that.. Almost lost all my gear when I was working on my gear in my back yard making sure everything was working properly. I now have to drive to a field to do any testing.

I really doubt just stopping Walmart from selling paintball supplies will in turn reduce paintball vandalism. Any run of the mill guy can purchase paintball gear from the various internet sites and proshops all around. If people want to vandalize something they will; its just a shame that they use paintball guns as a means to vandalize.

I've personally had people drive by and shoot at my parents' cars and house after I got back from a day of paintballing. Maybe I made some enemies at the field? lol. If that's the case, it's not ALL noobs with Wal-mart guns that do the vandalism.

In my really small town (population of about 3,000 residents) there were many many cases of vandalism involving paintball but no one ever took the time to file a police report. I can remember on Halloween being shot multiple times by people who thought it would be "cool" to do a drive by on little kids wanting to get candy. They do not realize the amount of harm they can cause, what if that stray paintball that was shot ending up hitting someone in the eye?

Eventually, paintball got voted to be banned in my town and I did not know that.. Almost lost all my gear when I was working on my gear in my back yard making sure everything was working properly. I now have to drive to a field to do any testing.

i guess its not a state wide law(i live in NJ too), in my town, you can do what you want on your own property, but still, someone was throwing paintballs at the windows in one of the classrooms at my school, it pissed me off so much.

A friend of mine from another forum(non paintball related) I frequent got lit up walking home from the store by a bunch of idiots driving past in a car recently actually. These were some of the results

Paintball/BB vandalism is indeed very bad. However I won't believe those numbers for a second. Given how much communities, boards, police depts. and practically everyone else hates paintball, I wouldn't put it passed exaggerated figures.

It's a little hard to believe that these numbers are anything concrete. Just look at the vague language that is used. "#### reports or vandalism."

This is with BB's and paintballs. A report is some scared asshole in a house that hears a bee fly into a closed window, and thinks the smudge is a paintball. A sting on the leg could have been an airsoft shot.

Try looking at the figures of "reports" of domestic violence. I can only speak for NYC, but I couldn't tell you how many "reports" in my building of so-called violence were children hitting their parents with pillows.

Of course, none of these are concrete examples, and it's all anecdotal, but you guys should look at the media/communities with the same disdain, and even more skepticism than the idiotic kids who actually go out and shoot something/someone down.

Try to think of the types of people who are writing the stories, and filing the reports. Angry parents who's kids want to get into paintball, and they'll fling whatever shit they can to keep it from happening.

Instead of just taking some half-assed low-brow report from a relatively small town at face value, look at the numbers, and try to recreate the situations. What do they consider a "report?" Is it a full fledged police report, where paperwork has been filed because property was damaged, or someone was hurt? Or is each "report" pertaining to each mark of paint on someone's mailbox? Each clack of a BB on someone's window?

So a couple of kids in a car empty out some pods of paint in their neighborhood, or one close by. How many "reports" will come from that one incident?

What are the real numbers? With completely outrageous claims like that, they are burdened with presenting the outrageous evidence, with solid, defined numbers and what those numbers entail.

Instead, as with everything else, they use typical, albeit EFFECTIVE, fear mongering to sway the public to hate something that really isn't as big of an issue as they make it to be.

Not to mention, that of course (like with music and video games), the parents go unquestioned, and get off scott-free for the wrong doings of their own children.

Yes, these people who hurt others and damage property are hurting the sport, but so are the mindless, self-righteous pricks who amplify the situation.

I don't believe those statistics. They may be accurate for one small town, but that's about it. If that town was a token representation of the US, we'd be seeing a huge amount of paintball vandalism. Personally, I've never seen something like that. If there was one incident per 100 people in the US per year, I'd probably see at least shot up house/sign/car every week during the summer when I'm out jogging.

It's definately a problem. The fact that someone was shooting signs near the PSP is a little disturbing, but it could easily be a couple of punks who bought some cheap crap from a vendor there, and decided to test it out on the drive home. I sure hope it's not PSP players doing that.

EDIT: The original has a large number of grammer errors. That's fine on a forum (for the most part), but a newspaper should have people reading these before posting them. The fact that they don't, or that they are missing things, casts doubts in my mind on the accuracy of the claims.

I don't really have anything to say about those statistics, but they banned paintball guns from being discharged within city limits in Lexington, KY. The only time anyone can shoot a paintball gun there is inside an indoor arena. The really bad part is since they voted to extend the city limits to the county line, paintball is effectively banned in all of Fayette county, which a good part of it is still rural.
To the comment above about how keeping walmart from selling paintball products won't eliminate vandalism, no it won't eliminate paintball related vandalism altogether, but it might help reduce it since Joe-the-fuckhead can't just walk into walmart and buy some cheap-ass BE gun to shoot up the town with. I would think that many vandals would likely find something else to vandalize their "hood" before they'd go to the trouble of finding a local paintball shop (which are becoming few and far between around here) or ordering their vandalizin' supplies on the net.

Edited by Boogie, 05 March 2009 - 06:20 PM.

Related to moral relativism, ethics become subjective only when you approach the speed of light. That is, it's ok to be self-serving, steal, and murder as long as you're going really, really fast. (This is why rap sounds better on the highway at 90MPH)

I don't really have anything to say about those statistics, but they banned paintball guns from being discharged within city limits in Lexington, KY. The only time anyone can shoot a paintball gun there is inside an indoor arena. The really bad part is since they voted to extend the city limits to the county line, paintball is effectively banned in all of Fayette county, which a good part of it is still rural.

That was a very useful post. I was actually thinking about seeing what it would take to get transfered from Massachusetts to Lexington, KY. I had no idea paintball was a legal issue there. Thanks.

I don't really have anything to say about those statistics, but they banned paintball guns from being discharged within city limits in Lexington, KY. The only time anyone can shoot a paintball gun there is inside an indoor arena. The really bad part is since they voted to extend the city limits to the county line, paintball is effectively banned in all of Fayette county, which a good part of it is still rural.

That was a very useful post. I was actually thinking about seeing what it would take to get transfered from Massachusetts to Lexington, KY. I had no idea paintball was a legal issue there. Thanks.

Lexington isnt the only city that placed in an Ordinance in the Banning of Paintball Guns, BB Guns and Airsoft Guns, because its the same here in San Francisco, Ca.

I don't really have anything to say about those statistics, but they banned paintball guns from being discharged within city limits in Lexington, KY. The only time anyone can shoot a paintball gun there is inside an indoor arena. The really bad part is since they voted to extend the city limits to the county line, paintball is effectively banned in all of Fayette county, which a good part of it is still rural.

That was a very useful post. I was actually thinking about seeing what it would take to get transfered from Massachusetts to Lexington, KY. I had no idea paintball was a legal issue there. Thanks.

I will say though that there are still a few fields within an hour drive from there, one being just across the county line, so I wouldn't completely count it out, but yeah the paintball scene isn't exactly favorable compared to other parts of the country.

Related to moral relativism, ethics become subjective only when you approach the speed of light. That is, it's ok to be self-serving, steal, and murder as long as you're going really, really fast. (This is why rap sounds better on the highway at 90MPH)

The fucked up part about it is that even if paintball becomes banned, the people that went around vandalizing and shit will just find something else to do to antagonize society. Making it illegal won't solve a thing. You've got to catch the people doing it. Nab a car full of teens and toss 'em in jail (overnight), then put it in the paper that these kids were imprisoned and their shit confiscated, you'll see a drop-off in that kind of activity in the area. It's just that you've gotta catch them, is all...and that's the hard part.

Maybe it would be less of an issue if paintball manufacturers were required by law to use non-staining fills? If it just takes a squirt of the hose to get the splatter off, it's not as big a deal.

Most of these cases are people with walmart guns that they bought for twenty bucks going on a night shooting spree because they think it is funny. It sucks that the people who play paintball all the time get punished for the mistakes of stupid people looking to do damage

want to know why? people don't take the time out to see that individual as a vandal, but as a paintball. even though they didnt do anything wrong, people are still just as ignorent as ever. do i blame them? no. do i think what they do, as far as ban "paintball" is right? fuck that. true paintballers need to give as good of an impression as we can to the rest of us

The ONLY thing people see is vandalism. They don't see competitions. They don't see the old guy helping the new player at the woodsball field. They don't see team cooperation. Although sometimes I think how little people actually do see is a good thing given the extremely shitty attitudes some tournament players have.

Guys, you need to be getting in touch with your local, state, and federal lawmakers. Don't just roll over and take it. I don't care if you are 11, 15, or 40 - where there is a will there's a way. Invite your Mayor to a paintball game. Write a position paper, or an essay about the merits of paintball. Make it clear that law-abiding citizens such as yourselfs are NOT participating in unlawful activity, nor do you condone it.

The absolute best way to help Paintball is by educating the people that make the laws.

Well this is a problem....I go to the State Capitol here in Florida to represent the builders association once or twice a year...Last year there was some rumblings about a politician submitting a law to only allow paintball on a business run field...that means no paintball on private land....Lucky for us nothing came about it...

"now all you need is some god awful "hater" barrel wrap, some bandana/ sandanna with something douchie that says "night night sucker" or something on it." - best advice given to an upcoming speedballer.

"If we stretch the numbers to cover the entire country, we could be looking at 2.7 million vandalism incidents per year. That number bears absolutely no scientific scrutiny whatsoever"

The numbers are made up. But this shows you what politicians will do to ge what they want. Its the same thing with firearms, they make up some numbers and then people just take those numbers to be fact and we loose abit of our rights or sport that we love. Now do I like people using paintball gear to vandalise stuff? Of course not. However if you take away the paintball guns, the bb guns, the sling shots, the airsoft, and any other thing you can shoot what will the people that vandalise stuff use? Simple rocks, sticks, anything they can pick up and throw or smash into something. Same thing with guns, you take the guns they use a knife, you take the knives they us clubs, you take the clubs they use their bare hands.

I don't really have anything to say about those statistics, but they banned paintball guns from being discharged within city limits in Lexington, KY. The only time anyone can shoot a paintball gun there is inside an indoor arena. The really bad part is since they voted to extend the city limits to the county line, paintball is effectively banned in all of Fayette county, which a good part of it is still rural.

That was a very useful post. I was actually thinking about seeing what it would take to get transfered from Massachusetts to Lexington, KY. I had no idea paintball was a legal issue there. Thanks.

Lexington isnt the only city that placed in an Ordinance in the Banning of Paintball Guns, BB Guns and Airsoft Guns, because its the same here in San Francisco, Ca.

really? there are a few teams that are in san francisco. i suppose they dont want a bunch of teenagers shooting up tourists though. bad for the local economy.

i diddnt even know it was banned and i only live an hour away from san francisco.

really? there are a few teams that are in san francisco. i suppose they dont want a bunch of teenagers shooting up tourists though. bad for the local economy.

i diddnt even know it was banned and i only live an hour away from san francisco.

There are a few Teams in SF, where they got their Markers is outside City Limits and the Ban has been in effect since the early 90's after a string of incidents in the city involving Paintball and Airsoft Guns were used for intimidation and the last known incident was when a teenage broke into Lowell High School and pointed an Airsoft Pistol in the direction of the Police Officers that responded to the Burglar Alarm and drew out their Guns and luckily for the teen, the cops knew right away that the pistol wasnt an actual firearm and immediately arrested him when he attempted to run.

And heres one incident that was never reported to SFPD, back in 2005 a friend of mine that worked at the Night Club I work at (I had the night off), called me up to inform me that a couple of guys in a car did a Paintball Drive By, luckily the Drive By happened after the Club had closed for the night, but if the Drive By wouldve happened earlier that night, more than a dozen Club Goers wouldve been hit.

I don't really have anything to say about those statistics, but they banned paintball guns from being discharged within city limits in Lexington, KY. The only time anyone can shoot a paintball gun there is inside an indoor arena. The really bad part is since they voted to extend the city limits to the county line, paintball is effectively banned in all of Fayette county, which a good part of it is still rural.

That was a very useful post. I was actually thinking about seeing what it would take to get transfered from Massachusetts to Lexington, KY. I had no idea paintball was a legal issue there. Thanks.

Lexington isnt the only city that placed in an Ordinance in the Banning of Paintball Guns, BB Guns and Airsoft Guns, because its the same here in San Francisco, Ca.

Yeah, but there's no way I'd move to the most agg, anti-gun city in the US.

If Mike saw the signs on the way to the PSP event then it was people on the way to the event that did the firing; not people leaving the event with new gear <wink>. Besides either/or is inexcusable. And eliminating Wal-Mart is not a solution; nor is banning PB equipment. One is as stupid as the other.

I have seen countless speed limit signs shot with all sorts of ammunition; 22 cal, 45 cal, 12 gaugeÖ.the list goes on. This is not a PB issue so much as itís a societal issue. The basic fundamental that our country was built on is that one citizenís rights end were the next citizens rights begin. Laws need to be established to protect the citizens from people who donít follow this basic social construct.

By the way your paintball marker is considered a firearm by the law. Just about every city in America has laws on the books preventing the discharge of firearms within the city limits; check it out. I know mine does.

Please donít read my post and think that I am for banning PB markers outside the fields; by no means. I wrote this to let you all know the law is not on our side. We need to be respectful of the rights of everyone around us and not defend those that choose to act irresponsibly and immaturely. If we donít make a target of ourselves we are more likely to get to live peacefully. If we do make targets of ourselves we are likely to bring the full weight of the government on us.

I don't really have anything to say about those statistics, but they banned paintball guns from being discharged within city limits in Lexington, KY. The only time anyone can shoot a paintball gun there is inside an indoor arena. The really bad part is since they voted to extend the city limits to the county line, paintball is effectively banned in all of Fayette county, which a good part of it is still rural.

That was a very useful post. I was actually thinking about seeing what it would take to get transfered from Massachusetts to Lexington, KY. I had no idea paintball was a legal issue there. Thanks.

Lexington isnt the only city that placed in an Ordinance in the Banning of Paintball Guns, BB Guns and Airsoft Guns, because its the same here in San Francisco, Ca.

Yeah, but there's no way I'd move to the most agg, anti-gun city in the US.

Who said anything about moving and whoever said that SF is the Most Anti-Gun City in the US, except you?

Also there are 1000's of Registered Gun Owners in SF and support the Rights to Bare Arms and Im not the only one in SF that supports the NRA.

I agree with Sticktodrum...yes, paintball related vandalism is a real problem, but I dont believe the numbers in that article for a second. Self-serving fear mongering, trying to get people all worked up over nothing. Show me some REAL numbers, gathered by independant professional journalists & subject to statistcal review...then maybe I'll take this seriously.

true paintballers need to give as good of an impression as we can to the rest of us

Well it was True Paintballers who lit up signs on the way to the PSP Event. We just have to be more mature, there's too many jerks in paintball. But yes we all need to make good impressions

By the way your paintball marker is considered a firearm by the law.

Here in Texas it isn't, but elsewhere we do have to be very careful. You'd be surprised how many people think paintballs just 3 guys buying walmart guns to shoot and hurt each other in the woods, and I mean really surprised. Almost everybody

10 million people a year play paintball? Then there's 290 million people in America who didn't play paintball last year, and all their neighborhood's stop sign just got lit up! I hate it when people dick around with our sport

I don't really have anything to say about those statistics, but they banned paintball guns from being discharged within city limits in Lexington, KY. The only time anyone can shoot a paintball gun there is inside an indoor arena. The really bad part is since they voted to extend the city limits to the county line, paintball is effectively banned in all of Fayette county, which a good part of it is still rural.

That was a very useful post. I was actually thinking about seeing what it would take to get transfered from Massachusetts to Lexington, KY. I had no idea paintball was a legal issue there. Thanks.

Lexington isnt the only city that placed in an Ordinance in the Banning of Paintball Guns, BB Guns and Airsoft Guns, because its the same here in San Francisco, Ca.

Yeah, but there's no way I'd move to the most agg, anti-gun city in the US.

Who said anything about moving and whoever said that SF is the Most Anti-Gun City in the US, except you?

Also there are 1000's of Registered Gun Owners in SF and support the Rights to Bare Arms and Im not the only one in SF that supports the NRA.

Brady campaign rates California as "The state with the strongest gun laws." http://www.stategunlaws.org/. SF may not be the worst city, but it's in the worst state.

As for who mentioned moving, I did. You even quoted me. I've highlighted it in red to make it easy to spot.

"If we stretch the numbers to cover the entire country, we could be looking at 2.7 million vandalism incidents per year. That number bears absolutely no scientific scrutiny whatsoever"

2.7 million was arrived at the simple process of taking the annual average of incident reports in Cedar Rapids, dividing it into the stated current population of Cedar Rapids (which resulted in one incident of vandalism per 105 residents) and applying that number to the total population of the United States.

And since that was only one quick way of deriving the number, I made sure to clearly state that it was to be accorded no reliance at all - except as a way to bring attention to the fact that a lot of it goes on.

On the other hand - and I kid you not at all here - someone could make a VERY nice living if they could figure out how to purchase all of the guns that get confiscated by PDs all over the country.

Police departments are fairly quiet about this kind of thing, but they do book enough cases of 'paintball vandalism' to be discussing it amongst themselves as a growing nuisance and, as others have pointed out, sometimes enough to become actively involved in the legislative process.

Hell, its nothing that doesn't already happen with any number of other objects that serve as the catalyst for a bored youth's entertainment. If it weren't a paintball gun, it would be a baseball bat, or toilet paper, or a real gun. Does it concern me? Not in the least. Should it? Before I answer that, let me ask you all something first: Was there ever a moment in your life when you were guaranteed an insurance and safeguard against every possible and improbable environmental hazard out there, be it natural or no? Didn't think so. There is no insurance in this life. You live, you get hurt, you (probably, in many cases) cry like a little bitch, then you move on and get tougher and wiser. Worst case scenario: you die. Such is life. (Don't help crying about it or trying to corrupt and enslave the entire system or populace over it!) Do I think these little punks are cool or right in any way? Fuck no! They should be back handed and made to do the most detestable labor needed in the community at that particular point in time. However, when it comes time for these fearful old wankers to vote, and they immediately and savagely (without remorse or any concern for others, scarily just like those they've come to hate , hate something long enough, you shall surely become it...) take it out on those whom they perceive as the nearest immediate threat to their complacent existence, I feel nothing but disgust at their callous, and ultimately weak, natures. I firmly believe that any time someone gets to vote to take away any right that you may hold dear, they should be required to give up a right equally favorable to themselves.

And no, I do not care what the situation nor issue may be. I choose no sides but that of the man being stepped upon by such a careless, unthinking, slovenly, and belligerent society that has the audacity to call itself free. This shit is making me so sick, and I'm personally amazed that I haven't gone completely frickin' postal just yet. /Rant

Sorry 'bout all that, but I'm getting tired of seeing most everyone taking the easy and 'safe' side of an argument. "Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect." -Mark Twain

"15 injured today in what's believed to be the worst soccer ball assault in this town's recent history. a group of teens drove around several neighborhoods last night throwing soccer balls at residents of Jasper County, GA. police are trying to trace the soccer balls, but unfortunately, the local Sports Authority and Wal-Mart had recently dropped their stocks of all sports equipment except for paintball guns. aside from the discomfort incurred by pedestrians unfortunate enough to be walking the streets at this time, several houses have been irreparably damaged by the balls. some say they spent an entire day looking for balls that have bounced off walls and disppeared into bushes.

estimated property damage has reached $34,000, and is expected to climb as more money is spent reporting on this, and similar events to placate the useless trash that feed off of this type of news."

...but I dont believe the numbers in that article for a second. Self-serving fear mongering, trying to get people all worked up over nothing. Show me some REAL numbers, gathered by independant professional journalists & subject to statistcal review...then maybe I'll take this seriously.

Perhaps you missed the qualifying statement that clearly identified those numbers as not being based on anything scientific.

It was written by an 'independent, professional, journalist'. Probably one of five serving the entire industry.

I seen a video on utube and these teen did a drive by shooting with a paintball marker and kill two people because they had hit them in there unprotected eyes

Are you referring to the video below, if so, the incident occured back in late 2004 in one of the neighboring cities of Oakland, Ca. and it made Headline News all over the US when the video was first aired.

I seen a video on utube and these teen did a drive by shooting with a paintball marker and kill two people because they had hit them in there unprotected eyes

Are you referring to the video below, if so, the incident occured back in late 2004 in one of the neighboring cities of Oakland, Ca. and it made Headline News all over the US when the video was first aired.

And right at the end, "no one was severly injured". Hope those kids got to spend a long time in a small room with a guy named "Bubba".

I seen a video on utube and these teen did a drive by shooting with a paintball marker and kill two people because they had hit them in there unprotected eyes

Are you referring to the video below, if so, the incident occured back in late 2004 in one of the neighboring cities of Oakland, Ca. and it made Headline News all over the US when the video was first aired.

And right at the end, "no one was severly injured". Hope those kids got to spend a long time in a small room with a guy named "Bubba".

Each one got 4 years, but I doubt they actually did the 4 years, since Good Behavior would get them out sooner.

"15 injured today in what's believed to be the worst soccer ball assault in this town's recent history. a group of teens drove around several neighborhoods last night throwing soccer balls at residents of Jasper County, GA. police are trying to trace the soccer balls, but unfortunately, the local Sports Authority and Wal-Mart had recently dropped their stocks of all sports equipment except for paintball guns. aside from the discomfort incurred by pedestrians unfortunate enough to be walking the streets at this time, several houses have been irreparably damaged by the balls. some say they spent an entire day looking for balls that have bounced off walls and disppeared into bushes.

estimated property damage has reached $34,000, and is expected to climb as more money is spent reporting on this, and similar events to placate the useless trash that feed off of this type of news."

give it time... it'll happen.

Notice how no one is calling soccer players vandals or trying to get public use of a soccer ball banned in the town?

"15 injured today in what's believed to be the worst soccer ball assault in this town's recent history." Worst in recent history? There's been others? Lol.

Edited by Tmaned, 09 March 2009 - 02:50 AM.

"Experience is a nice way to say you've had your ass handed to you in a very unpleasant way and you learned something from it." Rob Rubin"I'm certified to administer first-aid massages in the event of female breast trauma. I have a card and everything."- Prometheanflame"You can wish in one hand and shit in the other, and see which one fills up first. The numbers come back, and it sure as hell ain't the lucky one, son."

Here in germany we have much more restrictive laws.
1. Pb guns are only legal to use in designated paintball areas, while transport to the field it must be disassembled and looked up in a Box, otherwise one will face the same consiquenses as one carrieing a "real" gun in public.
2. You have to be 18yr or older to buy, own or use a Pb gun. I think that helps alot
3. Most of the kids using a paintballgun for vandalism get caught by the poilce and have to face the consiquenses of carrieing a gun in public (which is illegal)

Those stats don't surprise me. I have had my car, my mothers car, her house, neighbors homes and cars shot up by paintball guns. I even knew a girl whose grandmother got shot a ton while she was sitting at a bus stop.

There are a lot of idiots in this sport, and the idiots enable each other to be tools. If one of these guys went outside at 5am to go to work and saw their grandmother weeping, bloodied, and full of paint splatters they would be furious. If they got back from a business trip only to find their car, and their mothers car shot to hell in front of her home where you kept your car while you were away, they would be furious.

There doesn't need to be more legislation, there needs to be more education and a stronger hand in dealing with convictions of vandalism and assaults related to paintball related incidents. If we want the government to "protect" us from everything, we will not have ANY freedoms with these constant, imo un-patriotic legislations passed against an individuals behavior. Punish the crime and criminals, sure, but legislating peoples actions before they do anything is getting a bit much. Let people make decisions, and if they result in bad reactions, hold them accountable.

Those stats don't surprise me. I have had my car, my mothers car, her house, neighbors homes and cars shot up by paintball guns. I even knew a girl whose grandmother got shot a ton while she was sitting at a bus stop.

There are a lot of idiots in this sport, and the idiots enable each other to be tools. If one of these guys went outside at 5am to go to work and saw their grandmother weeping, bloodied, and full of paint splatters they would be furious. If they got back from a business trip only to find their car, and their mothers car shot to hell in front of her home where you kept your car while you were away, they would be furious.

There doesn't need to be more legislation, there needs to be more education and a stronger hand in dealing with convictions of vandalism and assaults related to paintball related incidents. If we want the government to "protect" us from everything, we will not have ANY freedoms with these constant, imo un-patriotic legislations passed against an individuals behavior. Punish the crime and criminals, sure, but legislating peoples actions before they do anything is getting a bit much. Let people make decisions, and if they result in bad reactions, hold them accountable.